Girdwood Qs (aerial tram, gird-to-bird bike path)

Question

Hi, I'm finalizing our itinerary for our trip to Alaska in mid-August. Girdwood will be about the halfway point of our trip (after Denali/Healy) but before Kenai Peninsula). We are staying 2 nights at an AirBnB in Girdwood. This is my plan:

Sunday - depart Healy for Girdwood (estimating a 5-hr drive), arrive Girdwood around 2pm? Head to Alyeska resort for the Aerial Tram. Assuming we take the 3pm tram up, we still have a good 2 hours before we want to head down (tram opens until 7pm). I am looking at the summer trail map, which trail(s) up on the mountain would you recommend? Up Mighty Mike and then return to the station for a drink?

Monday - booked the Glacier Discovery Train + Spencer Glacier float with Chugach Adventures

Tuesday - We enjoy biking so am thinking of doing the Gird-to-Bird bike path. We may or may not bike the entire 24 miles. Has anyone done this ride? I'm looking at the map and while everywhere on the web says it's an "easy" and "family-friendly" trail, the map indicates there is a 300ft climb, which to me isn't exactly "easy." I am a casual urban bicyclist and mostly bike on flat bike paths; distance is not an issue but hills are. Just wondering if I can get some feedback - and if I should consider renting an e-bike??? Also, any bike rental outlets in Girdwood you recommend? indiangirdwoodbikepathguide.pdf

After our bike ride, we still need to visit AWCC, before we continue our drive to Homer (estimating 4 hours). That's why I doubt we will ride all 24 miles to Indian, but rather just to Bird Creek. (the 300ft hill is between Bird and Gird)

Anyway, just want to ask these Qs - to see if this itinerary makes sense, suggestions for hikes on top of Alyeska, and personal experiences with the Gird-to-Bird biking, and bike rental recommendations. Thank you!

Answer

Great itinerary — your plan for Girdwood fits very well with a mid-August visit, and you’ve chosen a perfect mix of scenery, activity, and logistics. Below is a detailed breakdown of how to structure each day, recommended trails on top of Alyeska, honest feedback on the Gird-to-Bird bike path (including the 300-ft “climb” question), and practical suggestions for rentals and timing.

1. Sunday: Healy to Girdwood + Alyeska Aerial Tram

The drive from Healy to Girdwood takes around 5 hours under ideal conditions, but summer road construction and stops in Anchorage can add 20–40 minutes. A 2pm arrival is reasonable if you leave Healy early.

Alyeska Aerial Tram timing: taking the 3pm tram gives you plenty of time on the ridge. The tram ride up is about 4 minutes, and the area around the upper station has short, scenic trails with sweeping views of Turnagain Arm and the Chugach Mountains.

Recommended trails on the mountaintop — these are realistic for a 2-hour window:

Mighty Mite Loop (very short, easy): a simple walking loop near the top station, perfect warm-up and very scenic. Good for everyone, minimal elevation gain.
Roundhouse to Upper Tram Path: a low-effort trail that circles the ridge near the Roundhouse Museum. Good if you want views without steep terrain.
Headwall Trail (only if you want a challenge): this is steep and rocky in sections. Most visitors skip it unless they’re strong hikers. Since you’ll have limited time and will have driven all morning, it’s optional at best.

Best plan for most visitors: walk Mighty Mite + Roundhouse loop, wander to the viewpoints, then relax at the Bore Tide Deli & Bar for a drink before descending. This gives you a perfect balance of scenery without overexertion on day one.

2. Monday: Glacier Discovery Train + Spencer Glacier Float

This is an excellent choice — it’s one of the most unique “only in Alaska” excursions and fits perfectly into your Girdwood stay. The adventure itself is about 4–5 hours, including the scenic train ride and the mellow float among blue glacial ice. Plan for the outing to occupy most of your day. It’s common to return to Girdwood by late afternoon and enjoy a relaxing dinner at Jack Sprat or Girdwood Brewing.

3. Tuesday: Gird-to-Bird Bike Path — difficulty, hills, and recommendations

The Gird-to-Bird bike path is indeed promoted as “family friendly,” and it is — but that doesn’t mean it’s flat. The tricky part is exactly what you noticed:

There is a ~300-foot climb between Bird Creek and Girdwood. It is not brutal, but it’s long enough that casual, flat-city cyclists feel it.

Honest assessment of the hill:

The climb is steady, not a short spike.
Most fit riders do it at an easy pace with breaks.
If you only cycle on flat trails, you’ll feel the burn but you can do it slowly.
An e-bike completely solves the hill problem and makes the ride pure fun.

You do NOT need to ride the whole 24 miles (round trip). The prettiest coastal sections are the Bird Point area and the path along Turnagain Arm.

Recommended ride plan for your ability:

Start in Girdwood.
Ride gently downhill toward Bird Point.
Stop at viewpoints along Turnagain Arm.
Turn around at Bird Point or Bird Creek — this gives you stunning scenery without pushing to Indian.
Return to Girdwood at your own pace.

If you do the entire Gird-to-Bird-to-Indian path, the hill becomes more noticeable on the return. Since you still need to visit the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center AND then drive four hours to Homer, minimizing exertion is wise.

E-bike recommendation: If hills worry you, absolutely rent an e-bike. It makes the ride effortless and lets you enjoy views instead of grinding gears.

Bike rental shops in Girdwood:

Girdwood Wheelhouse – reliable e-bikes, hybrids, mountain bikes, friendly staff, right in town.
Powder Hound Ski & Bike – good inventory, located near the base of Alyeska Road.

4. Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center (AWCC) + Drive to Homer

AWCC is only 15 minutes south of Girdwood, so doing it after your bike ride makes total sense. Plan 1.5–2 hours for the AWCC loop (driving + short walks to enclosures).

Then continue to Homer. The drive is around 4 hours without stops, but many people pause at:

Kenai River viewpoints
Clam Gulch State Recreation Area
Ninilchik scenic bluff pullouts

Expect more like 4.5–5 hours realistically.

5. Overall itinerary sanity check

Your itinerary is well structured and very reasonable:

Sunday = light hiking + scenic tram
Monday = major guided adventure day
Tuesday = bike + AWCC + travel onward

This spacing keeps each day active but not overwhelming.

6. Final suggestions

Yes: rent an e-bike unless you are comfortable with moderate hills.
Yes: do the tram + short summit trails but avoid long/steep routes because of limited time.
Yes: Spencer Glacier float day fits perfectly.
Yes: stop at AWCC before Homer.
No need to commit to Indian Point ride — just aim for Bird Point and decide on the spot.

Girdwood Qs (aerial tram, gird-to-bird bike path)

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